Life Sciences Librarian

Description

Life Sciences Librarian (FA73Bz)

The George Mason University, University Libraries seeks to fill the position of Life Sciences Librarian. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment. 

Responsibilities:

The Life Sciences Librarian manages a combination of duties and expectations, with direct responsibilities in: Reference and Research Consulting; Teaching, Learning and Literacies; Collections and Content; Outreach and Engagement; and Scholarly Communications. In addition, the incumbent will contribute to the development of programs benefiting STEMdisciplines in the Libraries’ Digital Scholarship Center. The primary focus of the position is support of faculty and students in the College of Science’s biology, systems biology, and bioinformatics departments. The incumbent will also support researchers in the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, as well as the information literacy programs developed for George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program; and the College of Science’s Governor’s School, located on the Science and Technology campus. The position reports to the Lead, Science and Technology Team and Mercer Library and will serve on both Mason’s Fairfax and Science & Technology campuses. 

Duties include:

• Research/reference and outreach services in person and virtually;
• Develops and maintains online research guides and related materials;
• Selects print and electronic format resources to support faculty and student research and instruction in assigned departments;
• Provides library instruction and support for face-to-face and online/distance education classes in assigned departments and programs;
• Acts as an affiliate to Libraries’ Digital Scholarship Center for STEMprojects;
• Develops working partnerships and relationships with teaching faculty, researchers and students;
• Follows trends in scholarship in assigned departments and programs in order to respond to student and faculty needs;
• Supports research projects and instruction within assigned departments and programs;
• Collaborates with other Science and Technology Team subject librarians to develop programming and market library services to users;
• Helps others to increase their awareness and acceptance of cultural differences;
• Participates on committees, task forces, projects, etc. within the Mason University Libraries, the university, and, as appropriate, the community;
• Performs other duties, as requested, which fall within the scope of a member of the University Libraries’ faculty.

Required Qualifications:

• ALA-accredited MLS or ALA-recognized foreign equivalent;
• An undergraduate degree in biology or neuroscience, or demonstrated evidence of significant training and experience providing research support to these disciplines (at least one to three years of professional-level experience is preferred);
• Experience in providing responsive and quality reference, instruction, digital and collaborative library research services; as well as practical understanding of the changing research needs of students and faculty (at least one to three years of professional experience is preferred);
• Experience in developing, building and sustaining working partnerships and relationships with teaching faculty, researchers and students;
• Experience in supporting science teaching, learning and research across a wide range of users;
• Knowledge of and experience with science research and teaching;
• Ability to advocate and promote library resources and services to a variety of constituents;
• Demonstrated ability to use current technologies for delivering and developing library services, including course management systems and social media;
• Understanding of research trends and applications in e-Science;
• Ability to build collaborative and mutually beneficial working relationships with people of varying backgrounds;
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development and growth; and
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a biological science. 

Appointment/Benefits:

This is a 12-month professional faculty appointment with rank dependent on qualifications and experience; health plan options and paid life insurance; several retirement plans, including TIAA-CREF; and 24 vacation days and 12 paid holidays; and tuition waiver for self. 

Special Instructions to Applicants:
All applications for this position (FA73Bz) MUST be submitted online at George Mason’s employment page (https://jobs.gmu.edu/). Applicants must submit letter of application, resume, and the names, addresses (including e-mail) and phone numbers of three current references. Questions should be directed to Renee Prokop (rprokop@gmu.edu), Human Resources Coordinator, Office of the Dean of Libraries. Review of applications will begin October 9, 2018.

The George Mason University library system, comprised of a large central library and four other distinctive libraries, is located on three campuses in the Northern Virginia-metropolitan Washington DC region.  One of Virginia's leading academic research libraries, the Mason Libraries continues to gain steadily in national stature as it undergoes extensive transformation in all areas that are key to a 21st century research library – innovative technologies and services, expert library faculty and skilled staff members, growing collections, publishing, modern facilities, and transformational partnerships.  Visit us at library.gmu.edu for more information.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.